🔗 Share this article

American officials assert the armed forces mission aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader involved many weeks of planning, however the moment the US President issued the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately two and a half hours.

The unexpected pre-dawn assault this past weekend represented a never-before-seen event within modern politics and resulted in the arrest of Venezuela's president along with his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Seized by troops from a top-tier American military force when they attempted to escape into a heavily secured secure chamber, the pair are currently in custody at a holding facility in New York and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

A Dawn Raid on Fuerte Tiuna

At sunrise that morning, the extent of the armed intervention in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, was clear.

Photographs from the vast military base, a huge military complex where key officials reside, show blasted structures as well as burned, smouldering vehicles.

The location was this facility where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, a senior political figure a party official indicated.

Just Moments Before - Trump Gives the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" began amid reports of explosions at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT).

American forces cut power across the capital, the President has since said, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The goal was to neutralize Venezuela's air defences and clear the path for American assault helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

"We assessed that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," the top general commented.

Targeted sites included the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Pictures depict the complex on fire, with huge flames seen for miles.

Venezuelans reported the way US military helicopters flew low above the city, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, but managed to continue flying, military leaders stated.

"It was significant gunfire," the President added.

The Lightning-Fast Ground Assault

Once on the ground, forces from an elite special operations unit, sprang into action.

They entered to the compound just after 2 AM local time, and the Maduros "gave up" without resistance, according to reports.

But, more details were provided. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

"The safe place is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it to the door because our guys were too quick.

"It was an extremely heavy entryway, a massive door," Trump told reporters. He reached to the door. He was unable to shut it."

But even if they had managed to enter the bunker, troops could have breached it in about "under a minute."

From Caracas to New York City

Now in US custody, the couple were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to New York City.

They were flown from the capital via chopper, and taken to a US warship, a warship positioned in the Caribbean. The team was back in international waters by 04:29.

It was on the ship that one of the defining pictures of the whole operation was captured - the president shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear that looked like dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

The Maduros were then flown via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Confronting The Legal System in American Soil

That same day, footage was released depicting Maduro inside the federal drug agency's main office in the city.

He and Cilia Flores are now detained at a federal holding facility within the city.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the US.

"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Video shows the leader's entry into American and transport into custody.